Collage Artist - Megan Coyle

Vivid animal and sea life collages composed of paper pieces cut from magazines caught my eye and brought back memories of grade school when free time meant doing just that... except this is mag-art all grown up. Flamingo Dancers 12 inches x 16 inches The creator is Megan Coyle, a Washington, D.C. artist. She studied painting and creative writing in college, but has chosen to work in collage because she likes the way her "painting with paper" technique allows each picture to tell a story. Megan looks through magazines for papers that are just the right colors for the image she has in mind, and begins the piece by creating the background. She often refers to a sketch or photograph while building the layers of paper. Simple scissors and repositionable glue are Megan's tools of choice. When a collage is complete, she applies a protective coating of varnish. "I'm constantly breaking down what I see into smaller pieces, piecing together each area bit by bit, occasionally stepping back to see the piece in its entirety." All of these collages are new this summer and are on exhibit in her current show, The Animal Kingdom, at the Goodwin House Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, August 1- September 25. Many more examples of Megan's work can be seen at her website and on Flickr.In addition to animals and landscapes, Megan collages incredible figurative portraits and still lifes. Read about her latest work and shows via her blog.